Hopkins APL holds parent workshop on STEM

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory will hold its second annual Parent STEMpowerment Workshop Sunday, Nov. 17, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Kossiakoff Center at its Laurel campus.

The workshop, open to parents of elementary and middle school students, is to help parents prepare their children to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The event is developed for parents with little or no exposure or experience in STEM fields, and will provide resources that impart of better understanding of the importance of STEM, according to a news release from APL.

Representatives from the Maryland State Department of Education; the University of Maryland; Johns Hopkins University; MATHCOUNTS; Maryland Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (Maryland MESA); and Northrop Grumman will all be at the event, discussing how STEM activities can improve academic performance. STEM professionals and college students will also be part of panel discussion.

“Parents are a critical part of the STEM equation, but they’re often forgotten or left out of STEM initiatives that focus mainly on the student or teacher,” APL STEM Program Manager Dwight Carr said in APL’s news release. “That’s why the Applied Physics Laboratory looks hard for unique ways to inform and support parents as well as students and teachers. The event was very successful last year, and we hope to empower even more parents this year.”

The workshop is free, but registration is suggested. Register at www.jhuapl.edu/STEM/psw/registration.aspx.

For more information about APL’s STEM Program Management Office, go to www.jhuapl.edu/STEM/